William Byrd: Laudibus in sanctis – Magnificum Domini – Hunc arguta canant (1591)

Laudibus in sanctis Dominum celebrate
supremum:
Firmamenta sonent inclita facta Dei.
Inclita facta Dei cantate, sacraque potentis
Voce potestatem saepe sonate manus.

Celebrate the Lord most high in holy praises:
Let the firmament echo the glorious deeds of God.
Sing ye the glorious deeds of God, and with holy
voice
Sound forth oft the power of his mighty hand.

Magnifi cum Domini cantet tuba martia
nomen:
Pieria Domino concelebrate lira.
Laude Dei resonent resonantia tympana
summi,
Alta sacri resonent organa laude Dei.

Let the warlike trumpet sing the great name of
the Lord:
Celebrate the Lord with Pierian lyre.
Let resounding timbrels ring to the praise of the
most-high God,
Lofty organs peal to the praise of the holy God.

Hunc arguta canant tenui psalteria corda,
Hunc agili laudet laeta chorea pede.
Concava divinas effundant cymbala laudes,
Cymbala dulcisona laude repleta Dei.
Omne quod aethereis in mundo vescitur auris
Halleluya canat tempus in omne Deo.

Him let melodious psalteries sing with fi ne string,
Him let joyful dance praise with nimble foot.
Let hollow cymbals pour forth divine praises,
Sweet-sounding cymbals fi lled with the praise of
God.
Let everything in the world that feeds upon the air
of heaven
Sing Alleluia to the God for evermore.

Psalm 150, paraphrased in Latin elegiac verse
Pierian = belonging to the Muses


Performance by I Fagiolini, Robert Hollingworth conducting [NML(info)

Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge, Richard Marlowe conducting [NML] (info)